Wolves fans were all left asking the same question after watching Portugal limp through to the last sixteen of the World Cup.

'How did Ruben Neves not get in this Portugal side?'

The talented Wolves youngster was controversially left out of his side's squad in the week leading up to the tournament, and after watching Portugal huff and puff through recent games, Wolves fans are puzzled.

They have after all seen Neves have a simply sensational season and the reaction on twitter after last night's game seemed to be one of disbelief that he wasn't deemed good enough for the national side.

Jay Barnsley: Ruben Neves would offer so much more to this Portugal team than William Carvalho.

Billy Rendell: How does Ruben Neves not even get in this squad?

James: I have to say it’s a travesty that William Carvalho starts and Ruben Neves can’t get in the squad.

Paul Goodman: The fact Ruben Neves isn’t in this Portugal squad is an absolute joke. Like beyond farcical

Marc Evans: This World Cup is crying out for Ruben Neves ♥

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty and Portugal blew the chance to finish top of Group B, with a dramatic climax seeing them draw 1-1 with minnows Iran.

The European champions were leading through Ricardo Quaresma's stunning goal but were dramatically pegged back in stoppage time by a controversial spot-kick - and they would have gone out of the tournament had Mehdi Taremi not missed a golden chance at the end.

Ronaldo should have ended doubts about the outcome, and taken his goal tally for the tournament to five, when Portugal were awarded a 51st-minute penalty in Saransk.

But the Real Madrid superstar suffered a rare blip as he saw his effort beaten away by Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand.

Things almost got worse for Ronaldo when he was the subject of a lengthy red card review by the video assistant referee, but his apparent swing of the arm was adjudged only worthy of a yellow.

But his night ended still in huge disappointment after Karim Ansarifard equalised from the spot in stoppage time.

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A 1-1 draw condemned Portugal to second place, behind Spain, and they will face Uruguay in the second round.

Quaresma, starting his first World Cup match, had earlier scored a memorable goal on the stroke of half-time.

Quaresma played a quick one-two with full-back Cedric Soares, sprinted to the edge of the box and curled the ball with the outside of his right boot into the far top corner.

Ronaldo's big moment arrived via VAR, after he was brought down in the area by Morteza Pouraliganji's clumsy challenge.

Referee Enrique Caceres initially gave nothing but after a second viewing pointed to the spot.

Yet Ronaldo was denied by a fine save from Beiranvand, diving to his right to beat the ball away.

It was a save in sharp contrast to the keeper's first-half performance, when he kept dropping crosses and was involved in a defensive mix-up which almost gifted Portugal an opening goal.

Hegazi

The Egyptian international has just completed his World Cup duties after Egypt fell in the first round, now the focus will be on his future.

The 27-year-old is one of Albion's most saleable assets and has a release clause thought to be £10m in his contract.

Wolves are reportedly happy to trigger the clause, along with West Ham who are also interested.

ESPN is reporting that the two clubs will go head-to-head to bolster their defences with the addition of the player who played 38 games for Albion last season.

Hegazi made his Egyptian Premier League club debut with Ismaily in 2009.

After two seasons at the club, he signed for Italian side, Fiorentina, where he suffered from two injuries.

He was then loaned out to Perugia but, later joined Egyptian Premier League club, Al Ahly on a five-year deal.

In 2017, Hegazi was loaned to West Brom, where he scored on his debut and won the Man of the match award.

He made his international debut at the age of 20 and has only missed games for Egypt due to injury.

ALAN PARDEW

Hegazi signed a permanent deal at West Brom in December 2017 and manager Alan Pardew was pleased to keep him at the club.

Pardew said: “He’s been brilliant for me. He’s been terrific. He has fantastic attributes as a centre-half and I think he’s learning.

“Sometimes he gets a bit too tight but he’s learning to keep his distance. He’s been excellent.

“This is great news for the Club - Ahmed has been absolutely terrific for me since I arrived and I am sure there is even more to come from him in the future.

"He is one of the players we can build around on the road ahead. He has a big role to play and it is good for the player and the Club to remove any doubts and make the transfer permanent.

"I'm sure it is something the supporters will also welcome."

TONY PULIS

Tony Pulis was the man in charge when Hegazi was loaned to West Brom.

He said: "He's a good addition. He's got a good pedigree and played for some good clubs.

"If he does well, we've already agreed a final deal. It's really, really good for us."

Wolves face Leeds competition for Newcastle winger

Wolverhampton Wanderers could face competition from Leeds United in the race to sign Newcastle winger Yasin Ben El-Mhanni this summer.

El-Mhanni, 22, is on the verge of leaving St James’s Park this summer and, according to the Daily Mail , he won’t be short of interested parties.

Wolves have been touted as a club who could look to snap him up on a free transfer, but there are a whole host of other clubs at home and abroad who could rival them for El-Mhanni.

The wide-man, from London, signed for the Magpies after a trial in 2016 when the club were still in the Championship.

He made his debut against Blues in the FA Cup in January 2017 and then featured again as the Geordies crashed out of the competition at Oxford days later, but didn’t do enough to break into Rafael Benitez’s first-team in the Premier League.

As well as Wolves and Leeds, Watford and Sporting Lisbon are other clubs said to be in the hunt for El-Mhanni.

El-Mhanni is one of the players in the Newcastle youth team who made an official complaint over alleged bullying and discrimination from U23 coach Peter Beardsley back in January.

The former Liverpool player was consequently suspended by the club as they began an investigation. Beardsley denied the claims.

Wolves have so far signed Raul Jimenez on a season-long loan deal from Benfica and Rui Patricio from Sporting Lisbon but are likely to be busier still in the coming weeks ahead of the transfer window closure.

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Wilshere move to West Ham 'in doubt'

One of the front-runners for Wolves-target Jack Wilshere looks to be falling back in the race for the ex-Arsenal man, according to reports.

The Sun claims West Ham’s reservations about his fitness mean they are willing to offer just a one-year deal, which might not be enough to persuade Wilshere to come to the London Stadium.

That could help Wolves’ chances of signing the 26-year-old and pairing him with Ruben Neves as the team’s creative nucleus for their first Premier League campaign in six years.

However, even without West Ham, the competition for the England international’s signature remains stiff with Crystal Palace recently linked and over the weekend Everton’s Marco Silva claimed to be interested.

According to The Sun Juventus are also keen on a player who turned down the chance to extend his 17-year relationship with Arsenal because of concerns over first team opportunities.

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Musa race

Wolves have entered the race for Nigeria’s World Cup star Ahmed Musa, according to reports.

However, they also mentioned reports in Turkish newspaper Fanatik, claiming that the Super Lig champions fear Musa’s form in Russia has alerted rival suitors.

They say Wolves and Marseille have ‘entered the race’ even though Galatasaray have made the 25-year-old a priority.

(Image: PA WIRE)

They quote his agent William D’avila: “We are in talks with Galatasaray, they have made an offer and want Ahmed,” he said.

“The transfer is a possibility, Galatasaray are a big club and will compete in the Champions League next season.

“Musa has offers from other clubs but he’s keen on playing for Galatasaray.

"We are currently working on a loan deal with an option to buy. He’ll make a decision soon. I think we can say there’s a 50% chance of Musa joining the club.”

Musa hit the global headlines when he scored twice in the Super Eagles’ win over Iceland last week.

However, he has struggled to have an impact at Leicester and ended last season on loan to CSKA Moscow.

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The final twist

Bruno de Carvalho has quit his role of club president at Sporting Lisbon after supporters voted for his resignation, amid a period of chaos at the club that has seen Wolves pick up Rui Patricio.

The Sporting squad was attacked at their training ground in May by a group of intruders and it led to a host of high-profile players terminating their contracts.

That list included goalkeeper Patricio, who has since completed a move to Molineux, and fellow internationals William Carvalho, Gelson Martins and Bruno Fernandes.

Patricio, 30, has signed a four-year contract at Molineux and joins Raul Jimenez and Willy Boly in a squad that Nuno Espirito Santo is beefing up ahead of their return to the Premier League.

Patricio, though, didn’t exactly leave the Portuguese capital on amicable terms; his long drawn out transfer was well publicised and saw Carvalho aim plenty of criticism at Wolves for their pursuit of him.

Now, after an overwhelming vote of no confidence from the club’s supporters and paying members, he has begrudgingly stood out after a period of suspension.

In a remarkable rant via Facebook, Carvalho insisted he was done with the club and, though he wished the supporters the best of luck for the future, he fired one last verbal punch at certain members of the club’s hierarchy.

“I can’t feel this club anymore...,” he wrote on his Facebook page . “I’m no longer Sporting Clube de Portugal because I’ve been deceived... I don’t want to be part of a set of cretins that aren’t worth the air they breathe.”

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Mawson odds

Wolves have emerged as second favourites to sign Swansea defender Alfie Mawson.

Sky Bet gives the defender a 5/1 chance of coming to Molineux, with West Ham his most likely destination.

However, recent reports have suggested the Hammers are balking at a rumoured £20m asking price.

The BBC claimed the Londoners have already had a bid for Mawson rejected, but they have completed a move for Lukasz Fabianski.

Wolves could strengthen at the back although they have already made Willy Boly’s loan permanent.